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Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm 62° Eyepiece - 1.25"
The Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm is a medium-focal length optic engineered for high-contrast deep-sky and lunar observation, utilizing high-index glass to achieve a flat field from center to edge. It serves as a lightweight, 1.25-inch alternative to larger wide-angle designs, emphasizing internal light scatter suppression and color neutrality. In f/5 to f/10 systems, it maintains sharp star images across the entire 62° field, effectively managing field curvature and lateral color without requiring the excessive mass of 2-inch wide-field eyepieces.
20mm Eye Relief and Mechanical Integration
The mechanical housing includes a sliding, locking eyeguard that provides 20mm of eye relief, ensuring comfortable use for observers with or without eyeglasses. This consistent eye relief prevents the "peeping" effect common in shorter-relief orthoscopic designs, while the locking mechanism allows for repeatable eye placement and shielding from stray light.
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Dioptrx Compatibility: The 18.2mm housing accepts the Tele Vue Dioptrx astigmatism corrector, allowing for sharp on-axis views without the use of spectacles.
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Binoviewer Utility: A 1.1-inch barrel diameter and 7.6-ounce mass make this focal length suitable for binoviewer pairs, where interpupillary distance and balance are critical constraints.
Performance in Refractor and Newtonian Systems
In a 4-inch f/7 APO refractor, the DeLite 18.2mm yields approximately 39× magnification with a 4.7mm exit pupil, providing sufficient brightness to frame the Orion Nebula (M42) while maintaining pinpoint stars to the field stop. In f/5 Newtonians, the 62° apparent field limits the visibility of native mirror coma, often producing cleaner edges than 70°+ eyepieces of similar focal length used without a coma corrector.
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19.1mm Field Stop: This physical aperture maximizes the true field of view in the 1.25-inch format while preventing vignetting in short-focal ratio telescopes.
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Group B Parfocality: This eyepiece is parfocal with Tele Vue 1.25" Plössl, Panoptic, and Nagler models, reducing the focus travel required during eyepiece swaps.
Operational Comparison
The Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm offers a distinct trade-off between apparent field width and exit pupil comfort compared to adjacent focal lengths.
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vs. Tele Vue 19mm Panoptic: The DeLite provides significantly longer eye relief (20mm vs 13mm) and tends to show better edge-of-field contrast, though it yields a smaller apparent field (62° vs 68°).
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vs. Tele Vue 17.3mm Delos: The DeLite is approximately 40% lighter and physically smaller, making it easier to manage on small mounts or in binoviewers, despite the narrower field of view.
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Is the Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm compatible with Dioptrx?
The Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm features a removable eyeguard that reveals threads for the Tele Vue Dioptrx corrector, allowing observers with astigmatism to achieve sharp views without wearing eyeglasses.
How does the Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm perform in fast f/5 telescopes?
The 18.2mm DeLite maintains a sharp, flat field to the edge in f/5 systems; the 62° field limits the visibility of telescope-induced coma compared to wider 82° designs.
Is the Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm suitable for binoviewers?
Yes, its slim profile and 7.6-ounce weight make the 18.2mm DeLite an ideal choice for binoviewing, providing a comfortable 20mm of eye relief for both eyes.
How does the Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm compare to the 19mm Panoptic?
The 18.2mm DeLite offers superior eye relief (20mm vs 13mm) and is more comfortable for eyeglass wearers, though it has a slightly smaller apparent field than the 19mm Panoptic.
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| Focal Length |
18.2 mm |
| Apparent Field of View |
62° |
| Eye Relief |
20 mm |
| Field Stop Diameter |
19.1 mm |
| Barrel Size |
1.25" |
| Weight |
7.6 oz (215 g) |
| Parfocal |
Group B |
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DeLite 18.2mm Eyepiece
× 1
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TeleVue 5-Year Limited Warranty for Telescopes and Accessories
